Workload could be reduced for some of UTSA’s top talent

UTSA coach Larry Coker said Friday that he is looking forward to playing with close to 85 scholarship players in the fall.

Last year, UTSA played with 67 on scholarship, which meant some of the top players on the team pulled varying amounts of double duty on either defense or offense, and also on special teams.

In at least one instance late in the season, all-Western Athletic Conference safety Triston Wade was on the field for more than 80 plays in a game.

Coker said he hopes some of the incoming players can take the load off his first-teamers in regard to special teams duty.

“What we’ll do is have a selection,’ Coker said. “Each coach will have their top 10 guys for special teams. Hopefully some of the guys coming in can help there.

“I think we’re going to try to rest some of these (front-line) guys. We’re not going to short-change our special teams. But we’ve got guys who are just as good and can play, and we’d love to have ‘em out there.”

The scholarship maximum is 85 for teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. After one “practice” season in 2010, two seasons of competition and four signing classes, UTSA has gradually moved up to that level.

Notes: UTSA will go through a light drill for about an hour on Saturday. The spring game is set for 2 p.m. Sunday at Farris Stadium. The game is open to the public, and admission is free.

Safety Tevin Broussard, a newcomer from Blinn Junior College, likely will sit out the spring game with an ankle injury. He did not work out Friday.

Tight end Jeremiah Moeller, who has been limited with a hamstring injury, is practicing again and is expected to be ready.